Tryon CSI2* Grand Prix

BRITAIN’s Amanda Derbyshire and the 12-year-old Irish-bred mare Luibanta BH proved unbeatable in the $73,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix CSI2* at Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina, USA.

The duo stopped the timers double clear in 42.452secs to best the venue’s first FEI Grand Prix class of the 2020 season at Tryon. Derbyshire’s win on the David Gochman-owned mare came hot on the heels of their win in Thursday’s $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stakes.

Bred by Galway’s Justin Burke, Luibanta BH (ISH) is by Luidam and out of the Abantos mare Mabanta.

Jump-off

Ireland’s David O’Brien and La Belle SCF, a 2011 Belgian Warmblood mare (Diktator van de Boslandhoeve x Baldini) owned by Spy Coast Farm LLC, took second place on a clear jump-off performance of 42.629, while Derbyshire also claimed third aboard the 2008 Holsteiner stallion (Con Air x Cambridge) Cornwall BH, owned by herself and Gochman Sport Horse LLC, on a double-clear effort in 51.822.

Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney and Rocksy Music, a 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Ars Vivendi x Diamond Serpent) owned by Equinimity LLC, were fifth (0/4/43.943).

Canadian course designer Peter Grant saw 51 entries test the first-round track, with 11 pairs returning to challenge the jump-off and only the podium winners producing double-clear rounds. Derbyshire and the 2008 Irish Sport Horse mare (Luidam x Abantos) she co-owns with Gochman Sport Horse LLC, claimed an early lead that couldn’t be beaten, and that she didn’t try to beat with Cornwall BH.

Derbyshire explained: “I knew there had only been two clears when I went in with Cornwall, and I know he’s not as fast as Luibanta, so I played it safe,” she detailed of her conservative round during which she ditched her crop. “It worked out in the end, because there were only three double-clears anyway! The reason I dropped my stick is that I’m terrible at holding my stick in general, and I normally drop it after a couple of jumps anyway,” she added.